U.S. patent application number 14/745443 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-22 for unoclip, a hanging hook for secure fastening of articles of personal use..
The applicant listed for this patent is Helder Dagot Lamarque. Invention is credited to Helder Dagot Lamarque.
Application Number | 20160369833 14/745443 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57587746 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160369833 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lamarque; Helder Dagot |
December 22, 2016 |
UNOCLIP, a hanging hook for secure fastening of articles of
personal use.
Abstract
The UNOCLIP is a spring activated hook assembly for securely
retaining articles of dress or the like intended for use by persons
disadvantaged by loss of sight or maneuverability and require that
a hung item remain on the hanger hook. Also the UNOCLIP is useful
in mobile platforms that need to have items retained on its
holders. The hanging item is placed onto or removed from the hook
by simply sweeping aside a retaining swinging arm that is pivoted
on a torsion spring securely mounted to the hook assembly base. The
tensioned swinging arm secures items hung on the hook by seeking
its neutral untensioned position and thereby either pressure
retains or encloses the item placed on the hook.
Inventors: |
Lamarque; Helder Dagot;
(Algueirao-Mem Martins, PT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lamarque; Helder Dagot |
Algueirao-Mem Martins |
|
PT |
|
|
Family ID: |
57587746 |
Appl. No.: |
14/745443 |
Filed: |
June 21, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 45/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16B 45/02 20060101
F16B045/02; F16M 13/02 20060101 F16M013/02 |
Claims
1. Assembling a secure retaining hook for retaining items and
having components of a hook body with a lower retaining hook on the
one extremity and a upper open hook on the distal extremity of the
hook body, a torsion spring of a multiplicity of coils between a
top coil and bottom coil, a ferrule for containing the torsion
spring and a swing arm with an upper pivoting end and a lower end
claw by the processes of attaching said torsion spring by said
bottom coil below said upper hook on said hook body by grasping
means enclosing said torsion spring by said ferrule which is
dimensioned in height to the height of the said lower retaining
hook on said hook body attaching said swing arm at its upper
pivoting end to said top coil of said torsion spring by an grasping
means and aligning said lower end claw on said swing arm centrally
contacting to said retaining lower hook to a alignment position and
joining the above described assembled secure retaining hook
assembly to a surface by a joining means. whereby the swing arm
closes-off the retaining lower hook in the alignment position of
untensioned spring state but is easily pushed from its untensioned
alignment position to hang items which are grasped by the end claw
that seeks its alignment position against the retaining lower
hook.
2. A secure fastening hook assembly for retaining items hung on it
having a hook body, a torsion spring, a ferrule and a swing arm
comprising on said hook body, a open hook on one end of said hook
body, a retaining hook on a distal end containing inscribed a
female guide means, a hook body grasping means to engage a bottom
grasp coil of said torsion spring, said ferrule for containing said
torsion spring and enclosing said grasping means where said ferrule
creates a pivot point on one end of said swing arm and into said
ferrule fits said torsion spring which grasps said body grasping
means at its said lower grasp coil and uniting said hook body to
said swing arm by a upper grasp coil of said torsion spring by a
swing arm grasping means which sets an alignment position of said
swing arm by a male guide means on a free swinging distal end of
said swing arm centrally into said retaining hook by engaging said
female guide means and a surface mounting means for attaching said
secure fastening hook assembly to a surface whereby the surface
mounted hook assembly may positively retain items placed upon the
retaining hook by pushing the pivoting swing arm aside from its
alignment position thereby permitting the swing arm to pinch the
item on the retaining hook thereby positively retaining the placed
item until manually removed.
3. A grasping means on said assembly of claim 2 further comprising
a solidifying adhesive substance for grasping together said top
coil and bottom coil of said torsion spring uniting said hook body
to said swing arm in aligned position configuration.
4. A grasping means on said assembly of claim 2 further comprising
a cavity in a base grasp block for a locking grasp to said bottom
grasp coil of said torsion spring and a cavity in a swing arm grasp
block for a locking grasp to said top grasp coil of said torsion
spring uniting said hook body to said swing arm in aligned
configuration.
5. A surface mounting means on said hook body as described in claim
2 further comprising an adhesive material whereby said assembly is
surface mounted.
6. A surface mounting means on said hook body as described in claim
2 further comprising a plurality of penetrating apertures in said
hook body for surface penetrating devices.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT
[0001] Norwegian Patent 321019 i, UNICLIP, Mar. 29, 2004 Proposed
Classes: International A47G 25/06//Clothes hooks. U.S. 223//Apparel
Apparatus
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable
JOINT RESEARCH PARTIES
[0003] None.
SEQUENCE LISTING
[0004] Not Applicable
PRIOR DISCLOSURES
[0005] Applicant is the Inventor of the prior parent patent
cross-referenced above.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Many devices hang clothing and other articles of wear.
Hardware suppliers have decorative hooks that suit most personal
needs. However, a universal retaining hook that secures the apparel
to its hold is sorely needed by the handicapped community of
Alzheimer and blind disadvantaged and all who find it difficult to
bend-reach to the floor. It is also a handy item for anyone who has
put a towel or a robe on a clothing hook only to find it on the
floor. This is particularly appropriate aboard boats, land trailers
and airplanes. Indeed a hook to hold an article of clothing should
indeed retain the item until it is manually removed.
[0007] Spring clasping hooks exist in the public domain that do
enclose ringlets that hold strapping and perhaps clothing but have
a limited retaining area defined by the distance the spring can be
depressed. The applicant had patented a clip under Norwegian patent
321019 i, that did swing in one direction but that device found
limited market acceptance. The inventor spent years on improving
the concept and has devised an improved swing clip that has more
versatility than the prior UNICLIP patent.
[0008] The inventor has since improved his original concept to
create a new kind of retaining clip for articles of wear that
features a torsion spring that permits free motion of a pivoting
swinging arm in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the hook that
retains the article of wear or use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0009] The UNICLIP, Norwegian patent #321019, was intended to
provide a positive retaining hook for articles of clothing and such
for the handicapped who found retrieving an article from the floor
a challenge. These handicaps include those who had difficulty in
bending or the visually disadvantaged. The hook also found other
uses where a retention of an article must be positive but that
retention must be also easily removed. Such uses include boat
cleats or a clothing hooks in a moving platform such as a vehicle
trailer, boat or airplane. This initial UNICLIP hook was peg shaped
and had a limited motion on the retaining mechanism. It received
very limited market response and fell into the public domain.
[0010] The inventor has since improved his original concept to
create a new versatile hook that features a torsion spring to
permit free motion of a swinging arm in a horizontal plane
perpendicular to the hook that retains the article of wear or
use.
[0011] There is currently a plethora of designer clothing hooks in
the public domain that are readily available in a variety of
styles. The popular clothing clip is a spring closure that is
restricted to being depressed in a limited direction and
aperture.
[0012] The within disclosed hook device, hereinafter "UNOCLIP", is
intended to positively retain any item placed on or within the
hooking appendage. This may be a rope, a leash for a seeing eye dog
or a article of clothing or other fabric. It has applicable use on
boats or docks for retaining lines. It is particularly useful in
hospitals or factories or recreation centers and places of
entertainment where space must be conserved and generally available
open hooks are not positive retaining enough to assure that any
article that is placed on the hook will be there when needed and
easily removed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The invention, hereinafter called "UNOCLIP" is a
closure-hooking device whereby the closure is assured by a torsion
spring returning a swinging arm to a neutral alignment position
where the spring is at its zero stress torque. In seeking that home
alignment position the swing arm gently retains whatever is placed
on the hook. If the hung item sits wholly within the hook (as
perhaps a loop tag on the clothing), the neutral position is the
zero alignment position where the retaining spring is not under any
torque tension and the end of the swing arm is closed against the
hook. The swing arm can be deflected in a clockwise,
counter-clockwise or depressed to assure an adequate aperture to
hold the intended article(s).
[0014] To remove any item from the retaining hook, a gentle tug
will permit the article to slide off the hook or light finger
pressure will result in the swing arm to retract so the article may
easily be lifted off.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1. Several perspective views of the UNOCLIP assembly is
a perspective detailed view of the best current practice of the
invention shown at an alignment position in the several views
of
[0016] FIG. 1A, angular perspective;
[0017] FIG. 1B, lower plan;
[0018] FIG. 1C, side plan, and
[0019] FIG. 1D, top plan.
[0020] FIG. 2 Perspective view of a blow up of the UNOCLIP device
assembly shows the component integral parts.
[0021] FIG. 3. Details of the integral parts of the UNICLIP
assembly in the several views of
[0022] FIG. 3A, a midline sectional cut;
[0023] FIG. 3B, the upper, side and under plan of the Swing
Arm;
[0024] FIG. 3C, the top plan of the hook body.
[0025] FIG. 4, The functional characteristics of the UNOCLIP shows
views of the swing motions of the Swing Arm of
[0026] FIG. 4A as a counter-clockwise swing;
[0027] FIG. 4B as a clockwise swing and
[0028] FIG. 4C as a mid-sectional cut of a depressed swing arm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
[0029] FIG. 1 shows the various physical perspective views of the
best current practice employed in the UNOCLIP assembly. These
perspective views show the integral components of a HOOK BODY 10
and a SWING ARM 40 from an angle in View 1A, plan detail of the
lower extremity in View 1B, side plan detail in View 1C and top
plan detail in View 1D of the UNOCLIP. All views show the UNOCLIP
in an ALIGNED POSITION 46 of the SWING ARM 40 wherein the contained
torsion spring is in zero tension.
[0030] FIG. 2, a blow-up, shows the details of the three major
integral components that comprise this simple retaining hook
system. These are the HOOK BODY 10, a TORSION SPRING 30, and the
SWING ARM 40. The SWING ARM 40 mates with a TOP GRASP COIL 32 on
the TORSION SPRING 30 by means of a SWING ARM GRASP BLOCK 42
located on the underside of the SWING ARM 40 and then a BOTTOM
GRASP COIL 34 of the TORSION SPRING 30 then mates with the HOOK
BODY 10 by a similar arrangement located within a FERRULE 14 which
is a part of the HOOK BODY 10. The FERRULE 14 encloses the TORSION
SPRING 30 and is dimensioned to assure the SWING ARM 40 returns to
the RETAINING HOOK 18. The location of the FERRULE 14 also defines
the pivoting point of the SWING ARM 40. Furthermore, the alignment
of the geometries of TOP GRASP COIL 32 and the BOTTOM GRASP COIL 34
which are inserted into the respective grasp blocks on the HOOK
BODY 10 and SWING ARM 40 are such that a MALE GUIDE 44 on the SWING
ARM 40 returns to a zero tensioned alignment position (the home
position) in a FEMALE GUIDE 20 in the RETAINING HOOK 18. The MALE
GUIDE 44 on the SWING ARM 40 also acts as a claw in retaining
articles hung over the RETAINING HOOK 18.
[0031] The UNOCLIP may be joined to a surface by the use of screws
or other joining means through the MOUNTING HOLES 16, though
adhesive materials may also suffice. The UNOCLIP also has an
auxiliary OPEN HOOK 12 located on the upper extremity of the HOOK
BODY 10 as a convenience for articles that need no retaining
hold.
[0032] In use, articles of clothing (or the like) may be hung on
the RETAINING HOOK 18 of the assembled UNOCLIP by pushing the SWING
ARM 40 aside. The TORSION SPRING 30 then pivots the SWING ARM 40
towards the home alignment position. If the item placed on the
RETAINING HOOK 18 fits within the bend of the hook, the MALE GUIDE
44 on the SWING ARM 40 returns to the untensioned home alignment
position within the FEMALE GUIDE 20 on the HOOK BODY 10. If the
items fit over the forward edge of the hook, the SWING ARM 40
returns to a tensioned position, whereby the MALE GUIDE 44 on the
SWING ARM 40 acts like a claw and pinches the hung article tightly
in place, assuring it will not slip off the hook.
[0033] Removal of an item just requires a light tug of the item
draped on the RETAINING HOOK 18 or pushing or depressing the SWING
ARM 40 and lifting an enclosed item off the RETAINING HOOK 18.
[0034] FIG. 3. Details of the integral parts of the UNOCLIP
assembly, further shows more parts of the UNOCLIP in a section cut
3A as well as relevant plan views of the SWING ARM 40 and the HOOK
BODY 10. The View 3A is a midline sectional cut that shows a BASE
GRASP BLOCK 22 that grasps the bottom coil of the torsion spring
that also grasps its top coil to the SWING ARM GRASP BLOCK 42 onto
the torsion spring inserted within the FERRULE 14. The FERRULE 14
determines the pivoting point at one extremity of the SWING ARM 40.
Also, illustrated is the engaging MALE GUIDE 44 (a claw) and the
mating FEMALE GUIDE 20. The objective of this figure is to add
clarity to the prior functional description given above.
[0035] FIG. 4, The functional characteristics of the UNOCLIP is a
further illustrative elaboration of the functional description
given above. The three views of View 4A, B,and C clearly
demonstrate the free horizontal two dimensional motions of the
swing arm by a rotation clockwise, counter-clockwise or inward from
the zero tensioned alignment position that makes the UNOCLIP a
unique item holder that can retain items placed on or within the
retaining hook.
[0036] The above described component parts is associated with the
best current production design of the UNOCLIP and not intended to
be limiting.
TABLE-US-00001 LEXOGRAPHY TABLE OF SPECIFICATION AND CLAIMS CALL
FIG. NAME OUT # Mechanical Description HOOK BODY 10 1 intergral
body of hook(s) OPEN HOOK 12 2 hook shaped appendage FERRULE 14 2
tubular alignment device MOUNTING HOLES 16 2 joining means for
surface mounting RETAINING HOOK 18 2 hook shaped appendage FEMALE
GUIDE 20 2 female alignment guide BASE GRASP BLOCK 22 3 grasping
means to bottom grasp coil TORSION SPRING 30 2 torsion spring of
multiple coils TOP GRASP COIL 32 2 upper end coil of spring BOTTOM
GRASP COIL 34 2 lower end coil of spring SWING ARM 40 1 pivoting
arm SWING ARM 42 2 grasping means to top grasp GRASP BLOCK coil
MALE GUIDE 44 2 male alignment guide, claw ALIGNMENT 46 1 home
central zero-tensioned POSITION position
* * * * *